Packaging machine



Nov. 17, 1931.

FIG].

Original Filed April 26. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 LVI'EYTOR CHRIST/AN BALDENHUFER 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 1931- c. BALDENHOFER PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed April 26. 1928 Nov. 17, 1931. c. BALDENHOFER 1,331,337

- PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed April 26, 1928 e Shets-Sheet a 1931- c. BALDENHOFER 1,331,837

PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed April 26, 1928 e Shee ts-Sheet s will]; wh g IN V/EN TOR CHRIST/AN BALDE/Vf/OFER.

NOV. 17, 1931. c BALDENHOFER 1,831,837

PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed April 26, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 /.\'I 'z'zlVTO/C CHRIST/AN HALDENHOFEH.

BY J 2 v +J Z Patented I Nov. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE rncnome macmnn Original application flied April 26, 1928, Serial no. 2%,105. Divided and this application filed larch 5,

1929. Serial No. 844,834.

invention relates to packaging mawool, textile materials and food. products that are formed in attenuated filaments.

This application isa division of my application Ser. No. 273,105, filed Apnl 26,

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a rear elevation of the machine; 1 p

Figure 2 is a perspective of the machine from the front thereof;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the posit1on of the several parts as a filled carton is about to be removed from the machine;

Figure 4 is a similar view with the filled carton removed from the machine and a new charge of material being accumulated on the loading spindle;

Figure 5 is a. similar view showing the load on the spindle accumulated and the new carflon being opened for the reception of the loa Figure 6 is a similar view showing the load bein inserted in the new carton;

Figure is a top plan view of the carton handling mechanism showing the parts in the position corresponding to those in Figur 5 with the carton being opened;

Figure 8 is a similar view with the opening mechanism in withdrawn position, as in Figure 6, with the holders for the carton still in position but the opening mechanism withdrawn so that the carton can be loaded, as in Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a similar view showing the parts in position with the holders withdrawn so as to permit of the removal of the loaded carton as in Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 10 is a detailed view of the holder cam which actuates the holder into holding position and holds it there through opening and loading of the carton;

Figure 11 is a section on the line 14- 14 of Figure 7 showing the parts in the position shown in Figure 5 where the carton is being opened; 7

Figure 12 is a similar view showing the carton just being opened;

Figure 13 is a top plan view of the holding fingers where the cartons are located;

Figure 14 is a detail view partially in section showing the arrangement of the carton elevating mechanism and the carton opening and discharging mechanism;

he machine of my invention is fed with a pluralit of continuous strands of material to be loa ed, such as steel wool.

After the strands have been fed through the machine a predetermined length down to the trap door of the feeding chute, I cut ofi the strands in predetermined lengths,- in the meanwhile opening the trap door and allowing the strands to be fed to the winding spindle. These strands of predetermined length are wound on the spindle which is travelmg in a winding direction. A carton is then opened up and held in open position while the loaded spindle is advanced with its load into the interior of the carton. Then the spindle is reversed in its direction so that it may be removed from the interior of its load leaving the load in the carton and, upon being retreated to its initial position, it comes to rest until the winding operation has to start again.

Then the loaded carton is elevated and removed from the machine. A new carton is moved into position ready for being opened from its folded position to its open position to receive its load.

In detail, referring to the drawings, my machine consists of the following parts: The legs 1 support a table consisting of the side plates 2 and 3 on the front and back respectively of the machine. These side plates have mounted upon them a table 4. -Mounted upon this table on the left hand end is a single tubular support 7. These three supports are adapted to carry the feed table 8.

Bow supply mechanism The box supply mechanism is shown in detail in Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14. A supply chute 136 is provided in which the cartons in fiat unfolded condition are located upon an elevator 137. This elevator is connected on either side to chains 138 which pass over guide pulleys 139 and 140. The free end of the chain depends with a counter balancing Weight 141 on the end thereof. Mounted on the shaft 163 is a crank 202 connected to one end of a pitman 203, which has at its other end a strap 204 loosely surrounding the shaft 206. The shaft 206 also carries a ratchet 207 which is engaged by a pawl 208 mounted on the frame 209. By rotating the shaft 163 the elevator is caused to move upwardly step by step in synchronism with each cycle of operation to present a new folded box to be opened by the opener 52.

There is a chain on either side of the elevator. The top of the elevator is provided with spring hlnge plates 142 held in horizontal osition by the springs 143 so that the spring plates overlap the edges of the folded cartons which have the side walls 144,

145, 146 and 147. These spring plates overlap the corners 148 and 149 of the boxes. The other corners are designated 150 and 151. The function of these plates is to hold the corners of the boxes yieldingly while the other corners are being engaged interiorly by the box spreader 152 which is introduced into the interior of the box for opening the box.

Bow opening mechanism This box opening mechanism consists of a triangular shaped spreader 152 that is carried on the shaft 153. This shaft has a cross member 154 mounted in a yoke 155 of the lever 156. The cross member travels in slots 157 of parallel spaced guide members 158 on the table 4. The lever 156 is pivoted near its lower end at 159. Its lower end carries a cam roller 160 which travels in the slot 161 of the cam 162 on the shaft 163. This shaft 163 extends between the side walls of the machine and through them and is driven by the sprocket 164 which, in turn, is actuated by the chain 165, this chain receiving its power from the sprocket 166 on the shaft 79. The shaft 79 has a gear 80 which meshes with a pinion 81 on shaft 82. This shaft 82 is rotated by means of a motor 42 through a sprocket chain 84.

The reciprocation of the opener 152 serves to open the box. In order to hold this box in its open position and to form limiting members to keep the box from being pulled out of the machine when the opener is thrust in the interior thereof I provide reciprocating holdin jaws which are moved into position to hol the box while it is being opened and while it is being loaded but which are withdrawn at the proper interval after the box is loaded and when the box is being ejected from the machine.

In order to show the successive stages of operation of this box holding mechanism and box opening mechanism, I have provided the views shown in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.

I rovide a pair of spaced slotted guide mem ers 167 and 168 which are bolted by the bolts 169 to the supporting blocks 170 mounted on the table top 4. On either one of these blocks 170 are laterally extending brackets 171, the free ends of which act as supports for the helical springs 172 which are connected at their inner ends to eyes 173 that are attached to the sliding plates 174, the inner ends of which are formed into angular box supports for engaging the upper walls 144 and 145 of the box when it is in its expanded condition. These box supports are designated 175. Behind each of the box supports 175 are located the rollers 176 on the vertical shafts 177 mounted on the slides 174.

On either side of the box there are located holder cams consisting of flat plates having fingers 178, cam surfaces 179, and body members 180, such body members 180 having slots 181 through which project bolts 182 carried by the spaced cam actuating arms 183. These cam actuating arms 183 are connected together by the plates 184. The inner ends of the cam actuating arms so connected are adapted to move with the cross member 154 and to reciprocate in the guides 167 and 168.

The side members 185 carry spring pressed plungers 186 on their forward ends, which are adapted to yieldingly engage the ends 187 of the holder cams 178, 179. These yielding pins 186 serve to press the holder cams into position to move the box holders 175 into inner position.

Bow ejecting mechanism The box ejecting mechanism consists of a pitman 188 pivoted on a cross member 189 which works in a slot 157. A spring 190 is connected to the sliding members 184 at 191 and to a pin 192 at the point of pivotal mounting of the pitman 188. The free end of the pitman is formed into jaws 193 that are pivoted at 194 to the lower end of the elevating lever 195. This elevating lever is pivoted at 196 to a bracket 197. The lever carries a cam arm and a box engaging finger. The box engaging finger is designated 198 and is adapted to extend inside of the box to lift it when the box holders have been withdrawn laterally by the springs 172. That portion of the cam arm designated 199 is adapted to rest upon a guide roller 200 carried on the spindle 201 on the upright-7 when the cam levers so rest on the roller it is in horizontal position for engaging with the box. When the cam lever 199 is in engagement with the roller it is going into the box and when the roller engages with the cam 199 the box is beingelevated in filled condition.

Method of operation Assuming that the box has been filled, as in Figure 3, the box liftin finger 198 will be inserted into the box on t e interior thereof on the inside of the corner 150. At that time the box holders are withdrawn and the box is lilled. This tilled box has the lifting finger inserted in it and as the lever 195 has its upper end moving forwardly the several portions of the cam lever pass over the roller 200 bringing about an elevation of the box where it may be lifted off by the operator and the ends of the box closed.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditions and uses.

Having thus frilly described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

L In a packaging machine for strand material, means to deliver a folded box step by step to opening position, means to yieldingly engage the outer margins of the box edges when presented for opening to yieldingly hold them, means to be inserted within the box to engage the inside of the other edges of the box to open them, reciprocating box supporting means adapted to engage the outor walls of the box in open position to maintain said box in expanded position, and means on said box supports for holding said box in open position for engaging the corners thereof previously engaged by the yielding engaging means when the box was in flat position.

2. In a packaging machine for strand material, means to deliver a folded box step by step to opening position, means to yielding ly engage the outer margins of the box edges when presented for opening to yieldingly hold them, means to be inserted within the box to engage the inside of the other edges of the box to open them, reciprocating box supporting means adapted to engage the outor walls of the box in open position to maintain said box in expanded position, means on said box supports for holding said box in open position for engaging the corners thereof previously engaged by the yielding engaging means when the box was in fiat position, and means for locking said box supports in holding position.

3. In a packaging machine for strand material, means to deliver a folded box step by step to opening position, means to yieldingly engage the outer margins of the box edges when presented for opening to yieldingly hold them, means to be inserted within the box to engage the inside of the other edges of the box to open them, reciprocating box supporting means adapted to engage the outor walls of the box in open position to maintain said box in expanded position, means on said box supports for holding said box in open position for engaging the corners there- 0 previously engaged by the yielding engaging means when the box was in fiat position, means for unlocking said box supports, and additional means for withdrawing said box supports.

4, In a packaging machine for strand material, means to deliver a folded box step by step to opening position, means to yieldingly engage the outer margins of the box edges when presented for opening to yieldingly hold them, means to be inserted within the box to engage the inside of the other edges of the box to open them, reciprocating box supporting means adapted to engage the outer walls of the box in open position to maintain said box in expanded position, means on said box supports for holding said box in open position for engaging the corners thereof previously engaged by the yielding engaging means when the box was in flat position, means for unlocking said box supports, additional means for withdrawing said box supports, and means for engaging with the interior of said box to discharge it from the machine.

5. In a packaging machine for strand material, the combination in a box delivering and opening mechanism, of an elevator for presenting a folded box to be opened, yielding means for engaging the outer corners of the box, a reciprocating tapered finger for insertion within the box to engage the inside of its other corners to hold them, transversely moving annular box holding supports for holding the box in open position, cam means for operating said box supports, yielding means for resisting said cam means in moving the box supports to supporting position, guides for said box supports, and means for moving the cam means into locking and unlocked position.

6. In a packaging machine for strand material, the combination in a box delivering and opening mechanism, of an elevator for presenting a folded box to be opened, yielding means for engaging the outer corners of the box, a reciprocating tapered finger for insertion within the box to engage the inside of its other corners to hold them, transversely movin annular box holding supports for holding the box in open position, cam means for operating said box supports, yielding means for resisting said cam means in moving the box supports to supporting position, guides for said box supports, means for moving the cam means into locking and unlocked position, and means synchronous therewith for ejecting the box after the box supporting means has been withdrawn.

7. In a packaging machine for strand material, the combination in a box delivering and opening mechanism, of an elevator for presenting a folded box to be opened, yielding means for engaging the outer corners of the box, a reciprocating tapered finger for insertion within the box to engage the inside of its other corners to hold them, transversely moving annular box holding supports for holding the box in open positlon, cam means for operating said box supports, yielding means for resisting said cam means in moving the box supports to supporting position, guides for said box supports, means or moving the cam means into locking and unlocked position, means synchronous therewith for ejecting the box after the box supporting means has been withdrawn, and means associated with the last mentioned means for moving them horizontally into engagement with the box and thereafter vertically for elevating the box.

8. In a packaging machine for strand material, ejectin means for a box comprising an ejecting linger adapted to be inserted within the box, a cam arm, an actuating lever therefor, a roller for engaging with the cam surfaces on said cam arm for guiding the box engaging finger into the box and then guiding the finger into an elevated position.

In testimony whereof, I aifix my signature.

CHRISTIAN BALDENHOFER. 

